Wollondilly Council seeks Feedback on Tree Policy

Tree and vegetation management is a topic that generates a lot of strong opinions in the community.

Wollondilly Council is now seeking feedback on its draft Tree Management Policy, which aims to better protect local trees and significant vegetation as essential assets for current and future generations.

The policy recognises the increasing need to preserve and better manage trees as the Shire grows, especially those with environmental, heritage, social and cultural significance.

Manager Environmental Outcomes Alex Stengl said, “Trees are very much symbolic of our desired ‘rural living’ lifestyle.”

“As new housing impacts the Wollondilly Shire, we need to protect remnant native trees and vegetation and to develop the amenity of our urban areas.”

“According to the City of Sydney’s Urban Forest Strategy, in one year a single tree can cool air similar to 10 air conditioners running constantly, absorb 3400 litres of storm water and filter 27kg of pollutants from the air.”

“These are just a few of the benefits of having trees on streets, public places and private land,” she said.

The policy aims to maximise the preservation, protection, maintenance and management of trees, as well as protecting and conserving important biodiversity and wildlife corridors.

It also recognises the importance of tree canopy and the need to increase it throughout the Shire. Streets with a tree lined canopy have shown to have 10% increase in property values and urban heat mapping shows that heavily developed areas without tree canopy can be up to 11 degrees hotter than rural or natural environments.

The policy incorporates many of the common questions residents ask Council staff about tree management on private property and Council controlled land.

If you would like to view the policy and provide feedback, head to https://www.yoursay.wollondilly.nsw.gov.au/

The close off date for written submissions is 3 December 2019.

References

-       AECOM. (2017). Green Infrastructure, A vital step to brilliant Australian cities.

-       Sydney, C. o. (2013). Urban Forest Strategy. City of Sydney.